Grace for The Fallen

Spy

Theron Kynig

   I was seething. How is it her? How dare it be her? An Elf who was more human than anything else and who had been nothing but childish and disrespectful for the entire time I had known her. How does she deserve it? 

   I paused and thought, realising that I was being irrational. I couldn’t hate her. She was one of us, even if she didn’t act like it. And if I was being honest, I was a tiny bit jealous of her as well. It wasn’t just the fact that she had waltzed in here not two days ago and was all of a sudden the most important Elf in The Valley. It was also her friendship with the human. Even though it was a human, I still envied her. To have someone that close to you, who you could tell anything to and they wouldn’t shy away…

   Stop it, Kynig. Friends are just another tool to be used against you. They only make you weak.

   But you have Lydia…

   Shut up, me. That’s different.

   How is it different, exactly? She seems like a friend to me.

   Yes, but she’s safe here. No one can hurt her.

   Are you so sure? There is a human in The Valley at this very moment.

   I turned and glared at the human, realising that the voice in my head was right. That human could be dangerous. Even though, with his shoulders slumped in what almost seemed like relief, he didn’t seem like a threat.

   I would have kept analysing him, but at that moment Lefal clapped her hands for order. The noise died down and I looked up curiously.

   “We will need someone to train her,” Lefal started, and looked at Daetheia for confirmation. She nodded, and Lefal continued, “As the only other Elf in The Valley with a number of gifts even close to Daetheia’s, I have decided that Theron will be the one to assist her.”

   A loud groan was out of my mouth before I could stop it, and the Council chuckled in amusement. I looked at Daetheia to find that she looked just as horrified. I turned my gaze towards the human only to find that he was looking at Daetheia, grinning evilly. My hand tightened around the arm of my chair.

   “Theron,” I turned my head to Lefal, “Do you accept?” I clenched my jaw and nodded tightly. I would not give that human the satisfaction of seeing me refuse. Lefal nodded in approval and looked at Daetheia. She nodded as well. I hated how they already seemed so connected, as if they knew instinctively what the other was thinking. I imagined that at least one of Daetheia’s gifts had to do with the mind. Lefal looked up to the Council.

   “Thank you. You are dismissed.” There was a scraping of chairs as twelve Elves stood up at once and tramped out the pavilion.

   “Tane and Theron, please stay,” I sat back down in my chair and waited. Lefal was nervous. I wonder why.

   “You too, Ariston,” the human paused from where he had been shifting uncertainly towards the door. He walked cautiously over to Lefal, and I didn’t even try to suppress my snarl. Lefal looked at me warningly, and I shut my mouth.

   “Now we have something very important to discuss. Something that I didn’t necessarily want to tell the rest of the council,” my eyebrow c****d but I kept silent. She breathed in deeply, “I have had an idea. If Ariston is willing, I would like him to become my spy… within the ranks of the Elf-killers.”

   The room turned deadly silent. I didn’t need my gift to feel the almost palpable shock in the air. Tane was the first one to speak. Somehow still in that calm and sensible way of hers, though I could still feel her surprise.

   “Can we trust him not to betray us? Would he really work against his own kind?” I nodded in agreement with her statement. He’s a human. Betrayal is like a native language to them.

   “I understand your concern, but I believe that we can,” Lefal replied, “His loyalty to Daetheia is unrivalled. He would not betray her.” Tane nodded hesitantly. I gritted my teeth but nodded as well. If Lefal believed that he would stay loyal, then I would have to trust her. Lefal smiled slightly and turned to the human.

   “Ariston,” she started, “Will you–”

   “No!” I whipped my head around at the sharp exclamation to see Daetheia, fists clenched and eyes burning. She seemed to have finally come out of her paralysis. I had been wondering how long it would take her. Lefal frowned.

   “Pardon?”

   “I said no!” Daetheia repeated emphatically, “It’s too dangerous! You can’t expect him to–”

   “Tay,” the human interrupted softly, his hand squeezing her shoulder. “Perhaps I could answer that?”

   “Tony, no. You can’t seriously be thinking… You could be killed!”

   “I want to help,” he replied firmly, “And this is the best way.” He turned to Lefal, determination in his eyes that I couldn’t help but admire him a bit for.

   “What is your answer, Ariston Nox?” Lefal asked, “Remember, Daetheia is right. It will be dangerous, and if you are found out, you will be executed. However, the other option is, of course, wiping your memory and making you believe that Daetheia is dead.”

   “I’ll do it,” he replied, “I no longer hold any loyalty to my kind. What they did was despicable.” Lefal smiled slowly.

   “Good,” she replied, and I felt her relief.

   “But first,” the human spoke up, “I want to set some conditions.” I growled at his audacity.

   “What makes you think that you are in a position to demand such a thing?” I spat. He simply turned his head to look at me calmly, and I was surprised to feel no fear in him.

   “You need me,” he stated simply, “I think I’m in a position to make any demands that I want.” I heard Daetheia snicker quietly, and growled again.

   “Very well,” Lefal conceded, “What are your conditions?”

   “I will not do anything that harms the innocent. That includes some of the humans.” Lefal motioned him onwards. “And, I need some way to contact Daetheia. And if not to contact her, then at least some way to check up on her.” Lefal raised her eyebrow when he fell silent.

   “Is that all?” She asked.

   “Yep,” the human replied, nodding.

   “Well, that should be easy to arrange,” Lefal nodded once, satisfied, “We don’t normally have contact with the outside world, but I suppose we can make an exception.”

   “Thank you.” Lefal waved her hand in dismissal at the human’s remark.

   “Not at all. We should be the ones thanking you. It’s not every day that someone agrees to a life-threatening job for so little in return.” The human grinned. Then his grin disappeared.

   “What should I tell everyone?” He asked.

   “The truth,” Lefal shrugged, “Well, part of it anyway. Tell them that you were kidn*pped by Elves, who staged a murder for Daetheia but actually killed her themselves. Tell them that you have finally seen the true nature of the Elves, and have decided that you are prepared to do anything to wipe us all off of the face of Kolasi. The humans shouldn't have a hard time believing that.”

   “Just…” Daetheia’s voice was soft, almost like she didn’t want to be heard, “Just please tell my parents that I love them.” I snorted.

   Love.

   The human nodded and smiled softly at her.

   “If nobody else has anything to say, then this meeting is adjourned. Ariston, an Elf will drop you off near a place of human civilisation tomorrow. For today, you are free to wander where you will. The same goes for you, Daetheia. Tomorrow you will begin your training.” The two of them nodded respectfully and stood.

   “You want to come with me?” Daetheia asked the human.

   “Where are we going?” He replied, their voices fading as they walked away.

   “I want to see the Skrul.”

   Tane’s small gasp of surprise was all the confirmation that I needed to know that the other’s had heard her too. I shook my head in disbelief.

   That Elf is insane. 

-Rebecca Underwood